Sonia to open Rajiv Gandhi research centre in Kerala

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will inaugurate the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Development Studies here on Sep 7, state Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala said Tuesday.

"The state of art research centre would be housed in a 40,000 sq ft building which will have a library and a convention centre. We are also seeking the help of the Indian Council for Social Science Research," Chennithala told reporters here.

The institute, located on the city outskirts, has G. Mohan Gopal as its chairman.

Chennithala said Gandhi will be here for two days and would attend four more functions which include three government programmes.

One of the major programmes of the state government that Gandhi will take part in is the zero landless programme, aimed at providing land to landless families in the state.

She will hand over the title deeds to the first batch of families at a function here.

Gandhi will stay for the night at the Kerala Raj Bhavan and would return to New Delhi the next day.